Visit to Israel and Palestinian territories

Topic: Report

6 May 2017

Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid their first official visit to the State of Israel and to the Palestinian territories from 6 to 9 May 2017. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who was among those with whom Federal President Steinmeier met in Jerusalem, invited Steinmeier to visit the country. In the Palestinian territories, the Federal President met with President Mahmoud Abbas.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender at the Mahane Yehuda market during their Visit to Israel and Palestinian territories

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid their first official visit to the State of Israel and to the Palestinian territories from 6 to 9 May 2017.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who was among those with whom Federal President Steinmeier met in Jerusalem, invited Steinmeier to visit the country. With his trip, the Federal President wanted to both pay tribute to and deepen the special friendship between Germany and Israel. Amongst other things, he visited German-Israeli cooperation projects and held discussions with civil society representatives and students at The Hebrew University.

In the Palestinian territories, the Federal President met with President Mahmoud Abbas and visited a training centre that receives financial support from Germany.

Overview of the programme:

Saturday, 6 May 2017

  • Flight to Tel Aviv
  • Jerusalem, Mahane Yehuda Market
    Welcome by Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel
    Thereafter
    Joint tour of the Market and guided graffiti tour

Sunday, 7 May 2017

  • Jerusalem, delegation hotel
    Talks with David Grossman
  • Jerusalem, Mount Herzl, Military Cemetery
    Wreath-laying ceremony at the graves of Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres
  • Yad Vashem Remembrance Centre
    Memorial and wreath-laying ceremony
    Thereafter
    Visit of the Remembrance Centre and signing of the visitors book
  • official seat of the President
    Welcome by Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel
    Thereafter
    Joint press conference
    Thereafter
    Signing of the visitors book
    Thereafter
    Joint luncheon
  • Beit Ben Yehuda International Meeting Centre
    Talks with representatives of Action Reconciliation - Service for Peace on Young volunteers as lifelong mediators between Israel and Germany
  • official seat of the Prime Minister
    Talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel
  • The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Speech by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany
    Thereafter
    Talks with students
  • residence of the Prime Minister
    Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister

Monday, 8 May 2017

  • Givat Haviva
    Welcome by the Executive Director, Yaniv Sagee
    Thereafter
    Visit of the Centre for a Shared Society
  • Herzliya, residence of the German Ambassador
    Luncheon with representatives of Israeli civil society, including Amos Oz
  • Herzliya Accelerator Center (HAC)
    Tour of the HAC, presentation by selected start-ups and talks with HAC representatives
  • Tel Aviv, Café Europa
    Meeting with survivors of the Holocaust
  • Jerusalem, St Charles Hospice of the Sisters of St Charles Borromeo
    Reception hosted by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Elke Büdenbender
  • delegation hotel
    Talks with the Knesset opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

  • Qubeibeh, nursing home
    Visit
    Thereafter
    Visit of the nursing college and talks with
    students and graduates
  • Ramallah, official seat of the President of the Palestinian Authority
    Wreath-laying ceremony at the grave of Yasser Arafat
    Thereafter
    Welcome by the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, followed by talks
  • Joint press conference
  • Joint luncheon
    Thereafter
    Flight to Berlin